Updated 12:26 p.m. | Longtime Democratic Rep. George Miller announced he will not seek a 21st term in California's 11th District.

Miller, who was first elected to this Bay Area House seat in 1974, is a top ally to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who also represents Northern California.

“This is a great institution and I cannot thank my family and my constituents enough for having given me the honor and privilege of representing my district in Congress these past 40 years,” Miller said in a Monday news release.

“I look forward to one last year in Congress fighting the good fight and then working in new venues on the issues that have inspired me," Miller continued. "What a wonderful experience this has been.”

California's 11th District is safe Democratic territory. President Barack Obama won here by a 38-point margin in 2012.

Early names that popped up as potential successors to Miller include state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier. DeSaulnier ran for Congress in 2009 in what was then California's 9th District. He received Miller's endorsement in the race, but lost to now Rep. John Garamendi.

State Assemblywomen Joan Buchanan and Susan Bonilla were also mentioned as potential candidates.

Buchanan, too, ran for the open 9th District in 2009, but came in third behind Garamendi and DeSaulnier.